Construction for Relocation of U.S. military Base Restarts in Okinawa

The Japanese government has restarted the construction work for relocation of a U.S. military base on Thursday. The new U.S. military base will be to reclaim the land off the Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture.

Then Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga has criticized the central government for resuming land reclamation work in Henoko. Onaga was upset that the government moved ahead without a court decision to be made. He has revoked a land reclamation permit to higher court given to prevent the relocation of  U.S. military base.

Onaga is expected to ask to review the issue for Country regional dispute processing committee which is a place to prevent regional prefecture to prevent arguments with the country.

The Japanese and U.S. governments agreed back in 1996 to return the land currently occupied by the Futenma Air Station to Okinawa Prefecture. However, construction for an alternative facility for the Futenma base had not been started until now.

At the gate in front of the construction area of Henoko, around 70 people turned up at 7 A.M on the 29th. They were citizens of surrounding area and groups of people against the construction supporting Onaga. They tried to prevent trucks and workers from getting into the construction area. 200 police officers turned up to clear this problem. Officers told them not to be on the ground and some forced citizens to move out. This caused some citizens to be in a serious matter with police officers and there are big arguments in between them. 

The construction of relocation is scheduled to be completed in late October 2020 if Onaga's claim does not stop the plan. However, this case is in a serious situation and it might be a big issue for both parties the country and Okinawa prefecture.

News Source: NHK